Page 54 of Rescued from Betrayal
“Melior.”
“Yes?”
“You have nothing to fear. I will not touch you without your permission.”
She sighed. “Thank you, Sir Nathaniel.”
“Why do you still insist on addressing me so formally when I have given you permission to use my given name?”
She turned on her side to face him. After a long moment, she said, “At first it was a way to put distance between us. I suppose I was hurt.”
He peered at her. She looked so cute with her hands tucked up under her cheek. “Hurt by what?”
“You.”
His eyes widened. “But I have done nothing—” He stopped, guilt enveloping him. “My words in the carriage.”
“No.”
He waited for her to continue, but she seemed to be deep in thought.
“You can tell me, Melior.”
“Can I?” There was no malice behind her question, only hesitation. What kind of husband was he if his wife did not even know if she could trust him?
“I know we started off on the wrong foot, and I am by no means perfect, but I’d like to think of myself as a reasonable man. If you have a concern, I will do my best to listen andunderstand. Especially when it is concerning something I am at fault for.”
She stared at him, blinking those large blue eyes as if she were trying to decide how true his words might be.
Finally, she sighed. “You promised you would not tell anyone about Mr. Fairchild’s advances, but you did.”
“When did I—”
“In the cloakroom, after he left. I asked you not to tell anyone.”
He vaguely remembered saying something of the sort to comfort her in her distress.
“Then you went and told my brother of all people.” The accusation in her voice cut him to the quick. “Was anyone else privy to my disgrace?” her voice quivered.
He rolled to his side to face her. “Only the men trying to keep your brother from killing me.”
Her eyes widened. “He tried to kill you?”
“Not exactly, it was more like challenging me to a duel, but thanks to Al and John he did not carry his point.”
She ducked further under her covers. “Lord Newhurst and Mr. Roberts know?”
He sighed. “Yes. Eddie was so angry that I had to explain. I’d not thought it would hurt you, or I would never have divulged the situation. You did nothing wrong, you know. It was all Fairchild’s fault.”
She gave a little shake of her head but said nothing.
“I am sorry I broke your trust. Truly. I had not recalled my exact words to you in the cloakroom, but now I understand why you were so upset with me when I came to visit. Can you forgive me?”
She nodded. “I suppose under the circumstances it could not be helped.”
Her words were accepting, but she still seemed sad.
“Would you consider dropping my title now?”
